When Kroger in Franklin decided to move south a few blocks, it had a clean slate to build and…read morecreate its own appearance. It was decided that a sculpture by local artist Bernie Carreno would be added to the north end of the building. "Flight" was constructed in 2013 by Carreno and installed as the Kroger finished completion in 2016. The sculpture is ten feet tall and made of steel. It was inspired by watching birds in flight and conveys a sense of motion as the "arms" of the sculpture seem to be blowing in the wind. Carreno has been instrumental in the local art world having been involved with the Indianapolis Art Center for numerous years, even teaching sculpting classes. His work may be found all over the country, including pieces placed locally: three pieces on the U of Indy campus: Connected; Precautions; and Sol y Sombra. (1400 East Hanna) two at the Indpls Art Center: Marina; Everglades (820 E 67th St) and one in downtown Indy: Morning Ray (915 N Senate) Review #1264

A real-life Chihuly in Columbus, Indiana?! Heck yes! This famous glass artist with work seen in…read moreSeattle's Chihuly museum, Indy's Children Museum, and many other well-known spots across the globe, it's an honor to have such a large piece in a town's visitor's center. Columbus, Indiana may be small, but they're known for their world-class architecture and public sculptures. This chandelier is no exception to that. Make sure you stop in the visitor's center and look at this gorgeous glass, hanging from the ceiling in the stairwell. Enjoy!

Some artists have such distinctive styles that you can recognize their main style anywhere. Such…read moreis the case with the work of Dale Chihuly. His glass sculpture "Yellow Neon Chandelier" is a familiar style for anyone who has visited the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Inside the Visitors Center in Columbus, the west stairwell holds the 9' high (6' wide) chandelier of multiple bright yellow swirl pointed tubes. The collection of tubes are broadest near the top and then taper to a point at the bottom. Each of the tubes is blown glass. Chihuly isn't limited to one style of artwork though. Inside the Center, there are lithographs that were created by the artist. But there is no doubt that creating fascinating works of glass requires as much knowledge of engineering as it does talent. In addition to the chandelier, the Center has a collection of "Persians" that are displayed below it. According to Chihuly's website, "Persians are an exploration of form, shape and color--a celebration of wild asymmetry and swirling pattern. They have an ancient sensibility, and for Chihuly, conjure notions of Venice, and the Near and Far East." And if these pieces aren't enough, take a short trip up to the IUPUC campus (4555 Central Avenue) to see the "Sun Garden" (2007) which is a painted plexiglass disc suspended from the ceiling of the Columbus Learning Center. While at the Visitors Center, don't be afraid to ask the staff about the artist. I learned a lot about his process and his history from them. Review #1304

I wish I had read Ken's review before setting out trying to find this sculpture. Only after…read morecircling the block a few times and finally asking the locals, did I find out that this is located inside a building. Wow what an impressive intricate sculpture. We didn't get to see it all in detail as there was some sort of special event going on at the time. I will definitely have to revisit to make sure I see every detail of it. There is just so much to see.

What some would say is the heart of downtown Columbus, is an intricate kinetic sculpture weighing 7…read moretons and 30 feet in height! Chaos 1 (1971) by artist Jean Tinguely was commissioned for the previous plaza which was demolished, then rebuilt in 2008. You know a piece is special when the space was designed to show off and preserve the sculpture. The art was left in place during the demolition and reconstruction of the Commons. Protected by a large box, it was uncovered to a space that is protected from the elements with room to move and a mezzanine level for viewers to watch the upper functions of movement better. There are twelve motors that control the speed and timing of the 13 functions. (Note that the twisting of the base movement was shut off for daily function and is only activated during special events.) At times, the mechanism is relatively peaceful with only a few of the functions seeming to be moving. But between noon and 1 p.m. and later between 5 and 6 p.m, total chaos takes place with cannon balls weighing 7 pounds each drop. This does have the most mechanical problems due to the destructive impacts/nature of the drop. Review #1276

This is a cool thing that my wife and I came across while we were in Nashville Indiana. This was…read moresomething I like to pose next to take some photos. Have a good time and check out for sure.

High Lonesome is a description for the type of music pioneered by Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe…read more Monroe started a Bluegrass Festival in nearby Bean Blossom and it has become the longest continuous running Blue Grass Festival in the country (over 50 years.) To celebrate the contribution of Monroe to the cultural history of the area, an art installation was placed along the central corridor of Nashville, Van Buren Street. Just southeast of the intersection at Main, a sculpture of wood and metal sits in the raised garden plaza outside the Nashville House & Spears Pottery. Local artist Michael Evans created three larger than life musical instruments leaning against each other. The instruments are a guitar, a banjo, and a fiddle (violin) all of which are commonly used in Bluegrass music. Review #1316

This mural has an interesting story. It is the work of Gordon Strain and Greg Potter and was funded…read morethrough Crowdsourcing platforms such as GoFundMe, IndieGogo, and Patreon and merchandise sales. They worked on the piece throughout 2022 and I am sure that you can still donate if you are so inclined. The mural looks like a work in progress and depicts a sloth (named Percy) in a Hawaiian shirt hanging by one arm with a tropical drink, with an umbrella, (yes, please) in the other. The phrase "Hanging out in Indiana" appears in the mural, along with a toucan and another sloth in a flower print dress laying in a flower bed and reading a book. It is on the side of Middle Davids Artisan Candles & Gifts. The mural is very detailed and the artwork is top notch. The mural is painted directly on the wall's bricks. It is in excellent shape and the colors are very vivid. I like its laid-back, chill vibe. Tropical drinks, sloths, and Hawaiian shirts, do you need anything else. This mural it is not a large consumer of time, nor a destination piece. I was just there briefly while on my way to another nearby attraction. I would say that I was there about 5 minutes. I highly recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary. The Franklin Art Garden and Young's Creek Park are very close by,

On the northwest corner of the IUPUC campus, an art installation called "Transformations" sits…read morewithin an outer wall creating a plaza for thought and reflection. The outer wall contains a quote from former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli that reads "A University must be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning." In the center of the installation, a towering stainless steel art piece (nearly 30') rises from a shrub filled base on a central column. Three smaller tubes rise from the side of the column, extending even higher. Within each of these tubes is a dichroic glass which extends into the sky and changes color between blue and green depending upon how the light hits it. From the wall (directly over the quote), another steel arm extends towards the central column then spreads into an encircling loop around the tube area. Personally, I find the entire installation to suggest a microscope and lab equipment, all of which can lead to learning and transformation of our understanding of the world around us. The installation is intended as a "front door" to the campus and encourages visitors to relax and reflect. Review #1308

This mural was a little difficult for me to find for some reason. It is on the back of the Indian…read moreCreek Learning Center, overlooking a little field. It was painted in 2019 as part of the popular Johnson County Community Foundation Mural Program and was a community project that was headed by artists Chrissy Robertson, Meredith Pierson, Patrick Tisdale, and Elissa McKee. It is a nice mural that depicts a couple of bees buzzing around a few pink flowers that look like carnations. It is set against a dark purple background with honeycomb shapes. The mural is in excellent shape and looks great especially considering that people of all ages and artistic ability assisted in painting it (using a paint by number style). I am a huge fan of community art projects that bring members of the community together to create something to try and beautify their community. They even camouflaged the buildings backdoor seamlessly into the mural. Parking to get a closer look at the mural is pretty simple. You can just pull into the Learning Center's parking lot. They have an ample amount of spots to make a quick stop. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes and then I was off to my next adventure. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip if you do visit this spot.

Each year since 2016, the Johnson County Community Foundation has sponsored and organized the Mural…read moreProgram that brings public art to the towns within Johnson County. As with numerous other towns, the group organized a Community Painting Day (Aug 17, 2019) to create a way for the community to become involved in the process of creating the mural and hopefully appreciating what is involved. It is hoped to be a source of pride for the community. Behind the scenes of the actual painting day, a group called "Creative Council" designed the mural so that a "paint by number" plan could be used for the community to follow. The council includes Chrissy Robertson, Meredith Pierson, Patrick Tisdale, Elissa McKee, and the "Coffee Grrrls". This location chose a limited color scheme of purples, salmon, greens, and an off white for the honeycomb background and over-sized flower blooms. Additionally, black and yellow honey bees were also added. The mural is painted on the west wall of the school's Learning Center and can be seen by motorists heading east on SR 252. Parking is available at the Learning Center for those who wish to look over the mural at leisure. Review #2938

I used to get to Shelbyville, Indiana a lot more than I do when I worked out in the field. These…read moredays, a trip to the seat of Shelby County tends to be a bit of a day trip for a special event or to visit friends (or even a former doctor who now works with Shelbyville-based Major Hospital). In the 2020 census, Shelbyville had just over 20,000 residents. The area that became Shelbyville was ceded by the Miami tribe in 1818. The city was platted in 1822 and named after Isaac Shelby, the first and fifth Governor of Kentucky. The town incorporated in 1850, though had a post office back in 1823. The first railroad in Indiana connected Shelbyville to Indianapolis in the 1830s. Horseshoe Indianapolis (owned by Caesars Entertainment) opened here in 2009 and is known to bring it solid entertainment. The Grover Museum is definitely worth a visit. Blue River Trail is great for trail users. Meltzer Park is great. You also have to visit Skyline Drive-In, one of the few drive-ins still around and it has an awesomely retro vibe. Blue River Park also hosts "Music in the Park" events. While lots of cities hold music in their parks, these events seem to always be well attended. There's a definite communal spirit in Shelbyville that I really appreciate. Because this is an older area, there are lots of buildings worth checking out for historical value. Of course, as a wheelchair user I've also experienced quite a few that lack full accessibility. I really like the downtown area. It has a very old school charm. People are friendly and welcoming. Overall, I'm always quite pleased here. It's about 26 miles southeast of Indy. It's a pretty easy trip that feels longer and I always regret not visiting more when I do visit. Linnie's Cafe & Bakery is definitely a place to visit. When my former primary care physician transferred to Major, I was really tempted to follow her as there's just something about Shelbyville I love. If you haven't been, I definitely recommend it as an enjoyable day trip.

Shelbyville isn't your typical Indiana City. I had passed by the City on US 74 for decades, never…read morestopping. This past week, I visited to attend the funeral of a dear friend. I took time to learn about the town he called home. Shelbyville is the county seat of Shelby County. The town was platted in 1822 by pioneers willing to take on the challenge of taming a dense swampy forest. The city was named to honor Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero and Governor from nearby Kentucky. The rich history of the town is incredibly archived at the Grover Museum. I was struck by the beauty and well preserved architecture of the 200 year old city. The Visitors Center offers a walking tour map that explains the local architecture. The Public Square is inviting and lovely with a magnificent fountain and surrounding gardens. Everywhere I went, the people were incredibly friendly. The deputies at the courthouse, the curator at the Grover Museum, even restaurant servers were welcoming and helpful. There is a sense of community that was evident at the busy library. I found many mom and pop, locally owned restaurants around town filled with salt of the earth people and comfort food. Each meal was a unique experience. Must see: Shelbyville Public Square Grover Museum Walk along the Blue River Have a meal at a locally owned restaurant.